Green synthesis of MgO nanoparticles and its antibacterial properties.

Magnesium oxide nanostructured particles (NP) were prepared using a simple solution combustion technique using different leaf extracts such as Mangifera indica (Mango - Ma), Azadirachta indica (Neem-Ne), and Carica papaya (Papaya-Pa) as surfactants. The highly crystalline phase of MgO nanostructures was confirmed by PXRD and FTIR studies for 2 h 500°C calcined samples. To analyze the characteristics of obtained material-MaNP, NeNP, and PaNP for dosimetry applications, thermoluminescence (TL) studies were carried out for Co-60 gamma rays irradiated samples in the dose range 10-50 KGy; PaNP and NeNP exhibited well-defined glow curve when compared with MaNP samples. In addition, it was observed that the TL intensity decreases, with increase in gamma dose and the glow peak temperature is shifted towards the higher temperature with the increase in heating rate. The glow peak was segregated using glow curve deconvolution and thermal cleaning method. Kinetic parameters estimated using Chen's method, trap depth (E), and frequency factor (s) were found to be 0.699, 7.408, 0.4929, and 38.71, 11.008, and 10.71 for PaNP, NeNP, and MaNP respectively. The well-resolved glow curve, good linear behavior in the dose range of 10-50, KGy, and less fading were observed in PaNP as compared with MaNP and NeNP. Further, the antibacterial activity was checked against human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A visible zone of clearance was observed at 200 and 100 µg/mL by the PaNP and NeNP, indicating the death of colonies by the nanoparticles. Therefore, PaNP nanomaterial is a potential phosphor material for dosimetry and antibacterial application compared to NeNP and MaNP.

Twitter sentiment analysis using ensemble based deep learning model towards COVID-19 in India and European countries.

As of November 2021, more than 24.80 crore people are diagnosed with the coronavirus in that around 50.20 lakhs people lost their lives, because of this infectious disease. By understanding the people's sentiment's expressed in their social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) helps their governments in controlling, monitoring, and eradicating the coronavirus. Compared to other social media's, the twitter data are indispensable in the extraction of useful awareness information related to any crisis. In this article, a sentiment analysis model is proposed to analyze the real time tweets, which are related to coronavirus. Initially, around 3100 Indian and European people's tweets are collected between the time period of 23.03.2020 to 01.11.2021. Next, the data pre-processing and exploratory investigation are accomplished for better understanding of the collected data. Further, the feature extraction is performed using Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), GloVe, pre-trained Word2Vec, and fast text embedding's. The obtained feature vectors are fed to the ensemble classifier (Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) and Capsule Neural Network (CapsNet)) for classifying the user's sentiment's as anger, sad, joy, and fear. The obtained experimental outcomes showed that the proposed model achieved 97.28% and 95.20% of prediction accuracy in classifying the both Indian and European people's sentiments.

Extraction of Y2 O3 :Cr3+ nanophosphor by eco-friendly approach and its suitability for white light-emitting diode applications.

Cr3+ -doped Y2 O3 (0.5-9 mol%) was synthesized by a simple solution combustion method using Aloe vera gel as a fuel/surfactant. The final obtained product was calcined at 750°C for 3 h, which is the lowest temperature reported so far for the synthesis of this compound. The calcined product was confirmed for its crystallinity and purity by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies which showed a single-phase nano cubic phosphor. The particles size estimated by Scherrer formula was in the range of 6-19 nm. The UV-vis spectra showed absorption bands at 198, 272 and 372 nm having band gap energy in the range 4.00-4.26 eV. In order to investigate the possibility of its use in white light emitting display applications, the photoluminescence properties of Cr3+ -doped Y2 O3 nanophosphors were studied at an excitation wavelength in the near ultraviolet (UV) light region (361 nm). The emission spectra consisted of emission peaks in the blue (4 F9/2  â†’ 6 H15/2 ), orange (4 F9/2  â†’ 6 H13/2 ) and red (4 F9/2  â†’ 6 H11/2 ) regions. The CIE coordinates (0.33, 0.33) lie in the white light region. Hence Y2 O3 :Cr3+ can be used for white light-emitting diode (LED) applications.

GdAlO3:Eu(3+):Bi(3+) nanophosphor: synthesis and enhancement of red emission for WLEDs.

GdAlO3, GdAlO3:Eu(3+) and GdAlO3:Eu(3+):Bi(3+) nanophosphors were synthesised by solution combustion technique. Pure orthorhombic phase was obtained from powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) studies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed the porous, agglomerated and irregular shaped particles. The particle size obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurement was in good agreement with the values obtained by Debye Scherrer's and W-H plots. The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern show single crystalline nature of the sample. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements were carried out for GdAlO3:Eu(3+) and GdAlO3:Eu(3+):Bi(3+) phosphors excited at a wavelength of 274nm. The characteristic emission peaks of Eu(3+) ions were recorded at 590, 614, 655 and 695nm corresponding to (5)D0→(7)FJ (J=1, 2, 3, 4) transitions respectively. However, with addition of Bi(3+) ions in GdAlO3:Eu(3+), PL intensity drastically enhanced. Orange red color was tuned to deep red color with the addition of Bi(3+) ions in GdAlO3:Eu(3+) phosphor. Therefore, the phosphor was highly useful as red component in WLEDs. A single well resoled glow peak at 225°C was recorded in GdAlO3 and GdAlO3:Eu(3+). Further, with addition of Bi(3+) ions, an additional peak at 300°C was recorded. TL glow curves of different UV-exposed GdAlO3:Eu(3+):Bi(3+) show two TL peaks at 207 and 300°C respectively. The 207°C peak show simple glow peak structure and its intensity increases linearly up to 25min and after that it decrease.

Study on low temperature solution combustion synthesized Sr(2)SiO(4):Dy(3+) nano phosphor for white LED.

A series of Dy(3+) (1-5mol.%) activated Sr2SiO4 nanophosphors were prepared by low temperature solution combustion method using oxalyl dihydrazide (ODH) as a fuel. The obtained phosphor was well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The average crystallite sizes were estimated by Debye-Scherrer formula and Williamson-Hall plots and found to be in the range 20-32nm. Energy band gap was found to be widened with increase of Dy(3+) ion dopant. Photoluminescence spectra consist of three main groups of peaks in 460-500nm (blue), 555-610nm (yellow) and 677nm (red) respectively. These peaks were assigned to transition of (4)F9/2→(6)H15/2,13/2,11/2. The critical distance between Dy(3+) ions and quenching site was found to be ∼16.71Ǻ. The chromaticity co-ordinates of all the prepared phosphors were located in white light; as a result Dy(3+) activated Sr2SiO4 is a promising single phased phosphor for white light emitting diodes. Thermoluminescence (TL) of Dy(3+) doped Sr2SiO4 nanophosphors were investigated using γ-irradiation in the dose range 1-6kGy at a warming rate of 2.5°Cs(-1). The phosphors show a well resolved single glow peak at ∼145°C. The kinetic parameters were estimated by different methods and the results discussed. The TL intensity increases linearly with γ-dose at room temperature. The effect of fading with storage time was found to be ∼66% which is highly useful in radiation dosimetry.

Effect of different fuels on structural, photo and thermo luminescence properties of solution combustion prepared Y(2)SiO(5) nanopowders.

Y(2)SiO(5) nanopowders are prepared by solution combustion method using DFH, sugar and urea as fuels. The final product was well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The average crystallite size was estimated using Debye-Scherer's formula and Williamson-Hall plots and are found to be in the range 34-40nm for DFH, 45-50nm for urea and 35-42nm for sugar respectively. X1-X2 type YSO phase was obtained for all the samples calcined from 1200 to 1400°C. The optical energy band gaps (Eg) of the samples were estimated from Tauc relation and varies from 5.58 to 5.60eV. SEM micrographs of sugar and urea used Y(2)SiO(5) show agglomerated particles with porous morphology. However, for the sample prepared using DFH fuel observed to be almost spherical in shape. Thermoluminescence (TL) properties of γ-irradiated (1-5kGy) and UV irradiated (1-30min) Y(2)SiO(5) nanopowder at a heating rate of 2.5°Cs(-1) was studied. The samples prepared by using urea and sugar fuels show a broad TL glow peak at 189°C. However, DFH used Y(2)SiO(5) show a well resolved peak at 196°C with shouldered peak at 189°C. Among the fuels, DFH used Y(2)SiO(5) show simple glow peak structure which perhaps useful in radiation dosimetry. This may be due to fuel and particle size effect. The kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E), frequency factor (s) and order of kinetics are estimated by Chens glow peak shape method.

Investigation of structural and luminescence properties of Ho(3+) doped YAlO3 nanophosphors synthesized through solution combustion route.

YAlO3:Ho(3+) (1-5mol%) nanophosphors have been prepared by solution combustion route using oxalyl dihydrazide (ODH) as a fuel. The final product was well characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis, etc. PXRD patterns confirm the formation of highly crystalline orthorhombic phase structure. SEM and TEM studies show the particles are dumbbell shape, highly agglomerated and nano-size (∼30nm). The direct energy band gap (Eg) values estimated from Tauc's relation were found to be in the range 5.76-5.99eV. Photoluminescence (PL) studies show green (540 and 548nm) and red (645 and 742nm) emissions upon excited at 452nm wavelength. The emission peaks at ∼742 and 645nm was associated with the transitions of (5)F4→(5)I7 and (5)F5→(5)I8 respectively. The higher energy bands located at 540 and 548nm were associated with (5)F4, (5)S2→(5)I8 transitions. Thermoluminescence (TL) studies of γ-irradiated YAlO3:Ho(3+) (1-5mol%) show two glow peaks at 223 and 325°C recorded at a heating rate of 2.5°Cs(-1). The 223°C glow peak follow linear behavior up to 1kGy and after that, it showed sub-linearity. Up to 1kGy, the phosphor is quite useful in radiation dosimetry. The kinetic parameters (E, b and s) were estimated from glow peak shape method. The CIE coordinate values lies within the green region. Therefore, the present phosphors may have potential application in WLEDs as green phosphor.

Availability, accessibility and promotion of smokeless tobacco in a low-income area of Mumbai.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of accessibility, product availability, promotions and social norms promotion, factors contributing to the use of smokeless tobacco (ST) products in a typical low-income community of Mumbai community using Geographic Information System (GIS), observational and interview methodologies and to assess implementation of Cigatettes and other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) legislation. RATIONALE: In India, the third largest producer of tobacco in the world, smokeless tobacco products are used by men, women and children. New forms of highly addictive packaged smokeless tobacco products such as gutkha are inexpensive and rates of use are higher in low-income urban communities. These products are known to increase rates of oral cancer and to affect reproductive health and fetal development. METHODS: The study used a mixed methods approach combining ethnographic and GIS mapping, observation and key informant interviews. Accessibility was defined as density, clustering and distance of residents and schools to tobacco outlets. Observation and interview data with shop owners and community residents produced an archive of products, information on shop histories and income and normative statements. RESULTS: Spatial analysis showed high density of outlets with variations across subcommunities. All residents can reach tobacco outlets within 30-100 feet of their homes. Normative statements from 55 respondents indicate acceptance of men's, women's and children's use, and selling smokeless tobacco is reported to be an important form of income generation for some households. Multilevel tobacco control and prevention strategies including tobacco education, community norms change, licensing and surveillance and alternative income generation strategies are needed to reduce accessibility and availability of smokeless tobacco use.

CdSiO3:Pr³âº nanophosphor: synthesis, characterization and thermoluminescence studies.

A series of Pr(3+) (1-9 mol%) doped CdSiO(3) nanophosphors have been prepared for the first time by a low temperature solution combustion method using oxalyldihydrizide (ODH) as a fuel. The final product was characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The average crystallite size was calculated using Debye-Scherrer's formula and Williamson-Hall (W-H) plots and found to be in the range 31-37 nm. The optical energy band gap (E(g)) of undoped for Pr(3+) doped samples were estimated from Tauc relation which varies from 5.15-5.36 eV. Thermoluminescence (TL) properties of Pr(3+) doped CdSiO(3) nanophosphor has been investigated using γ-irradiation in the dose range 1-6 kGy at a heating rate of 5 °C s(-1). The phosphor shows a well resolved glow peak at ∼171 °C along with shouldered peak at 223 °C in the higher temperature side. It is observed that TL intensity increase with increase of Pr(3+) concentration. Further, the TL intensity at 171 °C is found to be increase linearly with increase in γ-dose which is highly useful in radiation dosimetry. The kinetic parameters such as activation energy (E), frequency factor (s) and order of kinetics was estimated by Luschiks method and the results are discussed.

Effect of different fuels on structural, thermo and photoluminescent properties of Gd2O3 nanoparticles.

Gd(2)O(3) nanoparticles (27-60 nm) have been synthesized by the low temperature solution combustion method using citric acid, urea, glycine and oxalyl dihydrazide (ODH) as fuels in a short time. The structural and luminescence properties have been carried out using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Raman, UV-Vis, photoluminescence (PL) and thermoluminescence (TL) techniques. The optical band gap values were estimated for as formed and 800 °C calcined samples. The band gap values in as-formed and calcined samples were found to be in the range 4.89-5.59 eV. It is observed that, the band gap values are lower for as-formed products and it has been attributed to high degree of structural defects. However, in calcined samples, structure becomes more order with reduced structure defects. Upon 270 nm excitation, deep blue UV-band at ~390nm along with blue (420-482 nm), green (532 nm) and red emission (612 nm) was observed. The 390 nm emission peak may be attributed to recombination of delocalized electron close to the conduction band with a single charged state of surface oxygen vacancy. TL measurements were carried out on Gd(2)O(3) prepared by different fuels by irradiating with γ-rays (1 kGy). A well resolved glow peak at 230 °C was observed for all the samples. It is observed that TL intensity is found to be higher in for urea fuel when compared to others. From TL glow curves the kinetic parameters were estimated using Chen's peak shape method and results are discussed in detail.

YAlO3:Cr3+ nanophosphor: synthesis, photoluminescence, EPR, dosimetric studies.

YAlO(3):Cr(3+) (0.1 mol%) nanophosphor has been synthesized by low temperature solution combustion method. The X-ray diffraction studies reveal an orthorhombic structure. Transmission electron microscopy reveals that the particles are spherical in shape with nano-size ~40-65 nm. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum shows a resonance signal with effective g value at g=1.978 which can be attributed to the exchange coupled Cr(3+) ion pairs in weakly distorted sites. The photoluminescence spectrum shows an intense doublet at 677 nm and 694 nm (R lines) assigned to spin-forbidden (2)E(g)→(4)A(2)(g) transition of Cr(3+) ions. EPR and PL studies reveal that the Cr(3+) ions occupy Al(3+) sites in YAlO(3). The interesting feature reported in this work concerns the linearity with gamma dose in the wide range (0.1-6 kGy). Prominent TL glow peaks at 226 °C and 346 °C were observed for both γ and UV-rays respectively. It is observed that the peaks at 226 °C and 346 °C eventually show a linear response up to 5 kGy which makes them a candidate for high dose dosimetry of ionizing radiation. The kinetic parameters namely activation energy (E), order of kinetics (b), frequency factor (s) of undoped and Cr doped samples were determined using Chens glow peak shape method and the results are discussed in detail.

Thermoluminescence and EPR studies of nanocrystalline Nd2O3:Ni²âº phosphor.

Nanocrystalline Nd(2)O(3):Ni(2+) (2 mol%) phosphor has been prepared by a low temperature (∼400°C) solution combustion method, in a very short time (<5 min). Powder X-ray diffraction results confirm the single hexagonal phase of nanopowders. Scanning electron micrographs show that nanophosphor has porous nature and the particles are agglomerated. Transmission electron microscopy confirms the nanosize (20-25 nm) of the crystallites. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrum exhibits a symmetric absorption at g≈2.77 which suggests that the site symmetry around Ni(2+) ions is predominantly octahedral. The number of spins participating in resonance (N) and the paramagnetic susceptibility (χ) has been evaluated. Raman study show major peaks, which are assigned to F(g) and combination of A(g)+E(g) modes. Thermoluminescence (TL) studies reveal well resolved glow peaks at 169°C along with shoulder peak at around 236°C. The activation energy (E in eV), order of kinetics (b) and frequency factor (s) were estimated using glow peak shape method. It is observed that the glow peak intensity at 169°C increases linearly with γ-dose which suggest that Nd(2)O(3):Ni(2+) is suitable for radiation dosimetry applications.

Swift heavy ion induced structural, iono and photoluminescence properties of ß-CaSiO3:Dy³âº nanophosphor.

CaSiO(3):Dy(3+) (1-5 mol%) nanophosphors have been prepared by a low temperature solution combustion method. The structural and luminescence (ionoluminescence; IL and photoluminescence; PL) studies have been carried out for pristine and ion irradiated samples. The XRD patterns of pristine sample show a prominent peak at (320) for the monoclinic structure of ß-CaSiO(3). Upon ion irradiation, the intensity of the prominent peak is decreased at the fluence of 7.81 × 10(12)ions cm(-2) and at higher fluence of 15.62 × 10(12)ions cm(-2), the prominent peak completely vanishes. The decrease in peak intensity might be due to the stress induced point defects. On-line IL and in situ PL studies have been carried out on pelletized samples bombarded with 100 MeV Si(7+) ions with fluences in the range (7.81-15.62)×10(12)ions cm(-2). The characteristic emission peaks at 481,574, 664 and 754 nm recorded in both IL and PL are attributed to the luminescence centers activated by Dy(3+) ions. It is found that IL and PL emissions intensity decreases with increase in Si(7+) ion fluence. The decrease in intensity can be due to the destruction of Si-O-Si and O-Si-O type species present on the surface of the sample. FTIR studies also confirm the Si-O-Si and O-Si-O type species observed to be sensitive for swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiated samples.

Combustion synthesis, structural characterization, thermo and photoluminescence studies of CdSiO3:Dy³âº nanophosphor.

CdSiO(3):Dy(3+) (1-9mol%) nanophosphors were prepared for the first time using the solution combustion method. The process of monoclinic phase formation was investigated by PXRD, TG-DTA and FTIR. The results show that the phase formation temperature of combustion-derived monoclinic CdSiO(3) is found to be lower as compared to the powders prepared by solid-state and sol-gel methods. It was observed that the average crystallite size calculated by Debye-Scherrer's formula and Williamson-Hall (W-H) plot are well comparable and was found to be in the range of 35-70 nm. Scanning electron micrographs indicate that there exist circular microcrystalline particles. It is observed that the optical energy gap is widened with the increase of Dy(3+) ion dopant. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra exhibit characteristic transitions of Dy(3+) due to (4)F(9/2)→(6)H(15/2) (blue) and (4)F(9/2)→(6)H(13/2) (yellow) regions. The thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve of CdSiO(3):Dy(3+) nano powder exposed to UV irradiation exhibited one main peak centered at 170°C. The intensity of the main peak increases up to the dose of 20 min then it decreases. The glow curves were analyzed by the glow peak shape method and the estimated trap parameters are discussed.

Ion beam induced amorphization and bond breaking in Zn2SiO4:Eu3+ nanocrystalline phosphor.

This paper reports on the ionoluminescence (IL) of Zn(2)SiO(4):Eu(3+) nanophosphors bombarded with 100 MeV Si(7+) ions with fluences in the range (3.91-21.48)×10(12) ions cm(-2). The prominent IL emission peaks recorded at 580, 590, 612, 650 and 705 nm are attributed to the luminescence centers activated by Eu(3+) ions. It is observed that IL intensity decreases and saturates with increase of Si(7+) ion fluence. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) studies confirm surface/bulk amorphization for a fluence of (3.91-21.48)×10(13) ions cm(-2). These results show degradation of SiO (2ν(3)) bonds present on the surface of the sample and/or due to lattice disorder produced by dense electronic excitation under heavy ion irradiation. These results are discussed in detail.

Improved ethanol tolerance and production in strains of Clostridium thermocellum.

Two Clostridium thermocellum strains were improved for ethanol tolerance, to 5% (v/v), by gradual adaptation and mutation. The best mutant gave an ethanol yield of 0.37 g/g substrate, with a growth yield 1.5 times more than its parent. Accumulation of acids and reducing sugars by the mutant strain with 5% (v/v) ethanol was lower than that of the parent strain with 1.5% (v/v) ethanol.